DAR chapter marks 50th anniversary

Published 1:00 pm, Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Mary McCoy Baines chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution is celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the organization of Plainview's chapter.

Mrs. J.W. (Lucile) Walker was the organizing regent for the chapter, which was chartered early in 1960. The chapter is named for Mrs. Walker's ancestor, Mary McCoy Baines, who was born in North Carolina in 1783 and married Thomas Baines in 1808.

She became the mother of pioneer Americans who settled in Texas on land grants and fought in the wars for independence from Mexico. Baines was a friend and adviser to Gen. Sam Houston and served as an early-day president of Baylor University. Lyndon Baines Johnson was among Mary McCoy Baines' distinguished descendants.

Mary McCoy Baines was the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier and the great-great-grandmother of Lucile Hill Walker.

Three generations attended the Oct. 16, 1960, meeting of Mary McCoy Baines chapter: Mmes. James D. McGown, John Logsdon and Ted Crager. The Texas State Vice Regent of DAR, Mrs. J.E. Hall of Major Francis Crice chapter, DAR, Wichita Falls, was the guest speaker that day.

Other members of note on the roster were the Marlin sisters, Mmes. J.L. Matlock, James B. Oswald, Henry Dyer Slaton and Sam Curry, as well as Mrs. Curry's daughter, Mrs. J.B. Roberts and her mother-in-law, Mrs. J.E. Roberts, and her daughter, Mrs. Greg H. Westmoreland, which made quite a family gathering at each meeting.

Two charter members remain of the Mary McCoy Baines chapter current roll: Savannah Tunnell Walker of Chevy Chase, Md., and Ramona Faye Curry Roberts of Plainview. These two members recently received certificates of recognition for 50 years of membership from both the National Society and the Texas Society DAR. Sharleen Wells Formby Rhoads, who died recently, also was a 50-year member of the chapter.

DAR was founded Oct. 11, 1890, and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., as a non-profit, non-political, volunteer women's service organization. The national DAR theme is "God, Home and Country." The purpose of Daughters of the American Revolution is to promote historic preservation, patriotism and education. Membership is for women over age 18 who are descendants of individuals who aided in achieving American independence.

Mary McCoy Baines has been active in the community since its inception, promoting these ideals. For many years the chapter awarded the Sarah Ross Jarvis Memorial Nursing Scholarship. Good Citizen and American History awards have been given to area students. The Junior American Citizen Club, now at the First Presbyterian Church pre-school and under the leadership of Mrs. Chris Lewellen, was organized by charter Mary McCoy Baines member Mrs. J.D. Wood at the Mother Goose School and has been sponsored by Mary McCoy Baines chapter since its beginning.

Countless flags have been donated in the community by this patriotic organization. The chapter cosponsored, with the City of Plain view, the 50th anniversary of the Korean conflict at the Fair Theatre and presented Korean veterans with special commemorative pins designed nationally especially for them. A tree was planted at the Veterans Memorial Circle at Kidsville and a marker was placed beside the tree to commemorate the event.

The chapter participated with Estacado Junior High School in its celebration of Veteran's Day for a few years and assisted with decorations for the July 4th Citizens' Prayer Breakfast, held at Wayland Baptist University. The Veterans' Hospital in Amarillo has been a longtime service project for the chapter, with items needed by the residents being donated on a regular basis, as well as monetary donations being sent to support the VA residents.

The chapter also supports and participates in several National DAR projects and has donated countless books to the genealogical section of Unger Memorial Library.

The Mary McCoy Baines DAR chapter meets monthly, except during the summer months, at Plainview Country Club. Currently, there are 29 members of the chapter.